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A review by megmccreery
How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams
emotional
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Naya works as a university professor but finds out her job may be in danger when the new president brings in a consulting group to find and weed out the weakest curriculums at the school, and Naya's department is a contender. To counter the worry over her job in danger, Naya's friends make her a to-do list of things she should be doing as a young 33-year-old rather than staying cooped up in her office. At her first attempt of getting out on the town, she meets Jake who starts to help her check off items on her list. Soon, though, she's faced with a character from her past that threatens her future and everything she has worked for. Her job and the possibility of her life changing from how it has always been is at risk.
If I hadn't had work the next day, I would have finished this book in a night. It was cute and wholesome while also very triggering. Since Naya and Jake get together so early (I'm not considering this a spoiler because they meet like 20 pages in), I wasn't sure what else was going to happen and thought it would drag. Definitely the opposite happened.
I loved Naya as a strong female lead who is still battling with her past and trying to overcome it. I really did relate to her self-sabotage moments.
Jake was a true king of consent and also worked to educate himself to understand Naya, so he's a green flag. Also he was so comfortable in his masculinity and tried wedding cakes with his gay best friend. I've never met a man in real life that would do that.
Great representation of minorities!
The plot was FAST, and the relationship developing was FAST. I did roll my eyes at the falling in love after one night trope, but I guess if you know, you know. The conflict was super predictable so it was kind of annoying to read exactly what you knew was going to happen, even when the characters acknowledged it. Also, I was torn with the time jumps of several weeks at a time. I get that it had to happen for the progress of the story, but I feel like there could have been a better solution.
One part of the plot did have me really nervous, so any book that makes me physically feel anything (happy, sad, nervous, anger) gets points.
If I hadn't had work the next day, I would have finished this book in a night. It was cute and wholesome while also very triggering. Since Naya and Jake get together so early (I'm not considering this a spoiler because they meet like 20 pages in), I wasn't sure what else was going to happen and thought it would drag. Definitely the opposite happened.
I loved Naya as a strong female lead who is still battling with her past and trying to overcome it. I really did relate to her self-sabotage moments.
Jake was a true king of consent and also worked to educate himself to understand Naya, so he's a green flag. Also he was so comfortable in his masculinity and tried wedding cakes with his gay best friend. I've never met a man in real life that would do that.
Great representation of minorities!
The plot was FAST, and the relationship developing was FAST. I did roll my eyes at the falling in love after one night trope, but I guess if you know, you know. The conflict was super predictable so it was kind of annoying to read exactly what you knew was going to happen, even when the characters acknowledged it. Also, I was torn with the time jumps of several weeks at a time. I get that it had to happen for the progress of the story, but I feel like there could have been a better solution.
One part of the plot did have me really nervous, so any book that makes me physically feel anything (happy, sad, nervous, anger) gets points.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse